N ventdrs



(No Model.)

. J. A. 8v C. F. FOSTER.

TOBACCO PLANT GUTTER.

No. 323,312. Patented July 28, N385.

t? I El] "l- //f .1a f//f/// /L/ Unirse Sintes Partnr @trimsO JAMES A.FOSTER AND CHARLES F. FOSTER, OF FULTON, NEW

TOBACCO'PLANT CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 323,352, dated July 28,1885.

Application led May 21, 1885.

To @ZZ wiz/0m.l it ntay concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES A. FOSTER and CHinLns F. Fosrnn, of Fulton,in the county of Oswego, in the State of New York, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Tobaceo-Flant Cutters, of which the following,taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear,and exact description.

This invention consists in a novel device lfor pivoting theshearingblades to each other, so as to greatly relieve the coupling-boltof strain, and at the saine time bracing said blades, so as to enablethem to better resist the torsional strain they are subjected to in theoperation of cutting tobacco or other plants, and said device alsoimparting to the shears other important advantages, as hereinafter setforth.

The invention is fully illustrated in the annexed drawings, whereinFigure l is a plan view of our improved tobaccoplant cutter. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal section on line Fig. l; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged end viewof one of the shearingblades, illustrating the variations in the bevelof the cutting-edge.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A A denote the two shearing-blades, pio vided with the usual bent, b, toallow the op erator to stand nearly or quite erect in the operation ofcutting tobacco-plants. Said blades are usually pivotcd to each other bysimply a rivet or bolt passing through them.

In the operation of such implements it has been foundthat the pivot isunable to resist the torsional strain exerted by forcing theconversely-beveled cutting-edges of the two blades into opposite sidesofthe tobacco-plant, and in consequence thereof the free ends of theblades become crowded together, and frequently cause the cutting-edgesthereof to out into each other, and thus become injured and inoperative;and, furthermore, the pivot becomes rapidly worn, so as to loosen theblades and destroy the efficiency of the shears. To obviate thesedefects, we provide the blades with pivotal bearings d a, which areintegral with the blades, and made of the forni of a boss projectingfrom one of the faces of one blade, and a socket on the adjacent side ofthe other blade, which socket coincides with and closely embraces theaforesaid boss, and

(No model.)

thereby forms the pivot on which the blades swing. A coupling-bolt, c,passing through the axis of the said pivot, secures the two bladestogether. The aforesaid boss and socket we press or strike up from saidblades by means of suitable dies, and thereby forni on the bladesannular braces, which serve to stiffen the same.

In order to admit of taking up the wear and tightening the pivotal jointwe bevel the bearings c. a to the form of frustums oi' cones, one ofwhich enters the other, and couplingbolt c we provide with a nut, n, bywhich to draw the two frustums toward each other, so as to tighten thejoint between them when required.

It will be observed that the aforesaid bearings forni a pivot whichrelieves the couplingbolt of strain, and is of large circumference, andthus capable of better resisting the torsional strain. Furthermore, theyform around the pivot a cup-shaped receptacle for lubricant, and thejoint between the bearings is protected from dust.

In the operation of cutting tobacco-plants or analogous plants theshears are liable to grasp stones lying near the stalk of the plant, andsuch accidents injure and frequently destroy the cutting-edges of theblades. To enable the blades to better withstand such collisions withstones, we turn the bevels of the cutting-edges from an acute angleatthe points toward a right angle at the heels of the blades, asillustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, in which my m represent the bevelat the point, and n n the bevel at the heel, suiiicient bevel beingretained at the heel to allow said portion of the blades to make thelirst out, the sharper forward portion of the blades completing the cut.rIhe comparatively blunt portions ofthe cutting-edges will arrest theaction of the shears when caught on a stone without 1naterially injuringthe shears.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. Shears having their blades pivoted to each other by a boss struck upfrom the face of one blade and entering a socket pressed in the adjacentface ofthe other blade, and a couplingbolt passing through the center ofsaid pivot, substantially as set forth.

2. In a shearing or cutting implement, the

other by frustums of cones struck up from said n the county of Oswego,in the State of' N ew 1o blades, one of said frustnms entering theother, York7 lhis 14th day of May, 1885.

combination of cutting-blades pivoted to each i presence of twoattesting Witnesses, at Fulton, l with L eouplingbolt passing throughthe axis JAMES A. FOSTER. [L

5 ofthe frustulns, and a tightening-nut on said CHARLES F.A FOSTER. [Ls.

bolt, substantially as described and shown. Witnesses:

In testimony whereof we have hereunto HENRY E. NICHOLS, signed our names:md affixed our seais, in the LANGDON O. FOSTER.

